115: That's Not Vibes, That's Hope and a Prayer

That's Not Vibes, That's Hope and a Prayer | ft. Sean Baker, Rarig Pacific

A distributor told Sean Baker he was making decisions "based on vibes." Sean's answer stuck with us: that's not vibes, that's hope and a prayer. Too many distributors are running operations on assumptions instead of truth, and it's costing them on the shelf and on the bottom line. This week we get out of the sales seat and into the warehouse.

In this episode, we break down:
🍺 Why "running on vibes" is really hope and a prayer
📦 What overs & shorts are actually costing you
🔍 Operational truth: you can't manage what you can't measure
🤖 Why the goal is augmenting your people, not replacing them
🚚 Old habits worth breaking, from U-boats to the duo lift
💰 The right way to structure warehouse and delivery comp
🤝 Why the whole industry wins when partners stop building walls

Who is Sean
Sean Baker has touched nearly every corner of this business. He started downstacking cases off a side loader in 2003, moved into warehouse ops, ran a route selling to Kroger and the corner liquor store on the same day, became a sales trainer, worked the supplier side at AB and Heineken, and now leads technology commercialization at Rarig Pacific. He's not a vendor reading from a script. He's an operator who connects how a decision in the warehouse ripples all the way to the six-pack on the shelf.

Connect
Learn more about Rehrig Pacific Company at rehrigpacific.com
Questions for the show? Email info@vxptech.com and we'll pass them along to Sean.
Listen, learn, and enjoy what you do. Share with a friend if you love it.
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About Tapped In Sales:
Tapped In Sales is a podcast dedicated to beer distributors and beverage industry professionals who are looking to elevate their sales strategies and drive profitability. Hosted by industry experts Bud Dunn and Mike Hall, we dive deep into real-world stories, actionable insights, and the latest trends to help sales teams and managers unlock their full potential. Each episode blends data, strategy, and motivation, making complex topics easy to understand and implement.

This podcast is powered by VXP Tech – the leading Sales Strategy Management system designed for beer distributors. VXP simplifies the complexities of goal setting, variable compensation, and sales team performance, helping you master your market and grow profits, case by case.

Stay tuned for expert advice, fresh perspectives, and tools to sharpen your sales approach!

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